Automatic display-sign.



3 SHEETS-$HEET 1.

PATENTEI) DEC 10, 1907. J. A. VIGEE. AUTOMATIC DISPLAY SIGN APPLICATION FIL-BD JAN.19, 1907.

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No. 873,471. PATENTED DEO.- 10, 1907.

J. A. VIGBR. 7 AUTOMATIC DISPLAY SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-19, 1907.

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VVITNESSES:

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PATENTBD DEC. 10; 1907.

J. A. VIGER. AUTOMATIC DISPLAY SI APPLICATION FILED JAN. 19

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTEIHI WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

JOHN A. VIGER, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR TO JAMES D. LOTZ, OF STILLWATER,

. MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC DISPLAY-SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10,1907. I

Application filed January 19. 1907- Serial No. 353-050- in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvemen s in Automatic Display-Signs; and I do dec.are the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to' moving display signs of the class usually mounted in or over store windows, or more frequently sus-- pended from or held by a bracket projecting out from the wall; and, the object is to provide an electrically operated and electrically lighted automatically changed, display sign of said class. Themechanism is inclosed in a casing. Said object we attain by the novel construction and arrangement of parts illus-' trated in the accompanyingdrawings, in Which- I F igure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation thereof with the back of the casing removed. Fig. 3 is a top view of the sign with the top art of the casing removed. Fig. 4 is an en elevation of the apparatus looking from the left end of Fig. 3 with the end of the casing intersected. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of the sprocket wheels S and adjoining parts. Fig. 7, 8 and 9 are details of cam motion for lifting and lowering a shutter and switching the lights Referring to the drawing by reference letters, a designates the casing or frame of thea paratus; it has a front opening I) and near tlife same electric lights 0 adapted to throw light upon a permanent sigr. represented in the drawing by d, painted upon a shutter N,

. which is sus ended by links 6, rocker-arms L, rock sha ts V, journaled in hangers V rocker arms Z, links K and rod U; the latter being reciprocated by a rocker arm E fixed on a shaft F, journaled in bearings g and h'avin an arm D rocked by a cam A, fixed on a s aft X journaled in bearings f (shown in Fig. 3 and D and rotated by a worm gear G, worm screw W, and gear wheel P, driven by a pinion P fixed on the shaft P of an ilectriwmotor Mrun by electric wires (not shown). Owing to the shapeof the cam A p it is obvious that the shutter will periodically occupy alternately 'ered position so that the sign d may be read, and an elevated'position holding it out of sight while a transparent sign W may be read against the electric lights 2 fixed to a bar Z back of it. Said sign W is an endless piece or strip of canvas stretched over and moved by four rollers R, journaled at R (see Fig. 2), and

having sprocket wheels R driven .by an endless chain H and the sprocket wheel S which is loose on the shaft Several different signs of different colors may be printed on the canvas, and each of them is exposed fora sufficient period to be read, and then the next one is exposed. During such changing of the signs they are covered-by the shutter and single sign, which is then lowered and exposed to reading inthe light of the outer'lamps.

The motion of the, signs just described is caused by the means already described as to sign d, and as to the endless canvas sign by the following mechanism: On the shaft X is fixed a collar orhead C, carrying a pivoted spring-pressed arm C having a e or a screw 0 engaging anlarm or spoke o the sprocket (about one half) of a revolution, whereupon the arm is thrown out and held out of engagement with the wheel during the balance of the revolution bya stationary cam plate T, (see Figs. 5 and 6); and during such disengagement acam B, fixed on'shaft X (see Figs. 7 and-8), holds the spring-arm J of an electric switch downward, whereby the terminals Y and Y close a circuit causing the li l'fts Z behind the canvas to shine; and W on said cam turns in the opposite position the spring arm closes the contact between the terminalsY and Y whereby the outside lights '0 are'lighted and the inside lights Z are extin uished.

From 1; 6- above description it will be understood that the motor is running constantly, but the clutch arm C the fixed cam T and the various other cams and mechan isms described cause the two s'i ns and their lights to operate automatica ly intermittingly, and thereby draw attention to the sign and make the alternate reading interesting.

What I Glairrriszwheel S and turning it a predetermined part 1. In a sign of the class described, a houstin an change the lights outside the cas-c ries of parallel rolls a mounted in the casing and a transparent endless canvas stretehe over and moved by the rollers and having ing near the opening, a shutter closing the opening-dining themoving of the canvas signs, and merns operated by the motor for moving the shutter intermittingly and means for extinguishing the outer lights during the periods t xe shutter is open 5 said shutter having upon it a sign adapted to be displayed in the light of the outer lamps while. the shutter is closed.

2. in a sign of the class described, a frame or casing having a display opening, an endless transparent canvas sign adapted to display various advertisements periodicallyat the opening;',rollers moving the canvas, an endless chain and chain Wheels on the rollers to rotate themin'unison, a sprocket wheel moving the chain, a shaft revolving inthe sprocket Wheel, a pivoted clutch arm carried by the shaft and adapted to engage and turn amen the wheel, astationary cam-olate cisenga ging the arm from the Wheel (luring part of each turn of the-shaft: the cams L and B fixed on said shaft, worm wheel fixed on the shaft, a Worm screw turning the same, an electric motor operati'ely connecteol with the Worm screw; a rock shaft with two arms, one of which is operated by the cam A, a shutter with a sign on it arranged to appear periodically in front of the canvas sign, a rod connectin the shutter with the other arm of the rock-s iaft so as to let the sign be operated b the arm anrl displayits own sign and concea the canvas signsv during their: motion and display them when they are at rest, an electric switch operated by the cam B, clc tric lights lighted and extinguished neriedic ally and alternately back of the canvas signs and onisi' the casing to throw light on the sign on the r' utter, the alternating periods of the use of he inner and the outer lights heir-Kg regulatei hy the switch and the cam B operating 7 In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two ,Witnesses.

- JOHN A. VIGER. Witnesses:

CHARLES MURREY, H. L. MILLS. 

